Believing the best in others and speaking uplifting words of encouragement strengthens the church. If there is an issue, go in person and speak the truth in love.
Like so many of these inner enemies, gossip comes from insecurities that hide in our souls. When we bring them into the light, the battle is half won.
5. Fear
The past couple of years has instilled a low-grade fear that many leaders acknowledge lurks in the back of their mind.
The picture is not one of a “fearful leader” but one with doubts, some worry, and second-guesses.
This subtle fear causes leaders to pull back, hesitate, and back away from risks they otherwise would have pressed forward with bold faith and confidence.
Courage is the spiritual remedy to fear. (Psalm 18:2)
That might sound like an unhelpful platitude. Like, “Hey, just be courageous.”
Easy to write, hard to do, right?
The deeper remedy to fear is knowing the source of your courage and connecting with the heart of your vision that makes the courage worthwhile.
The source of your courage is God, but it also requires your vision to start with a burden that compels you to care and a vision big enough to compel you to take action.
